Urban Forestry Policy Manual - City of Riverside

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the following guidelines have been established for addressing conflict situations that result from tree branches and foliage that interfere with electric lines. Responsibility Residential and Commercial Electric Service lines are the sole responsibility of the property/business owner. Owners are responsible for the service line beginning at the power pole to the point of connection to the home or business. If the service wire shows signs of damage from contact with a private tree, Public Utilities will 1. Repair the wires and install tree guard; 2. Re-route the service so that it does not contact the tree; or 3. Drop the service to allow the homeowner to trim the tree. Due to the extensive requirements for Utility tree workers and the lack of certified tree firms, the City has established a procedure that would allow residents the ability to use the City’s tree maintenance contractor at contract pricing for service line clearances and private tree removals. Property owners would contact the Public Works Department and request a written estimate for the work based on the City’s contract pricing for “crew rentals.” Work will be scheduled by the Department if the property owner agrees to the price estimate and provides written authorization for services. All costs will be billed to the property owner via their monthly utility billing statement. Optional three (3) month amortization is available. All clearance trims shall adhere to the City’s standard for trimming. Only transmission, primary and secondary electric lines are the responsibility of the City of Riverside; cable TV and telephone lines are the responsibility of those agencies. Based on the California Public Utilities Commission’s General Order No. 95, Riverside Public Utilities is required to keep utility wires clear of branches and foliage from nearby trees. Line Clearance Trimming Procedure When possible, property owners will be notified at least 48 hours in advance, via a door hanger of scheduled line clearance services, with the exception of emergency and high priority situation. It is the intent of the City to trim for line clearance on a two-year cycle. Minimal trimming clearance standards will adhere to the California Public Utilities 33
Commission General Order No. 95. Trimming practices will be outlined under the “Tree Pruning Specifications” of this policy. Trimming clearances will be based on tree species and circuit trimming cycles. Line Clearance Removal Procedure for Trees in the Public Right-of-Way It is the goal of the City of Riverside to plant the right tree in the right space, with long-term objectives of gradually removing inappropriate trees in the public right of way. Inappropriate trees are those that grow too large to be compatible with the wires. They will be removed and replaced where warranted with appropriate species. The Public Works Department will identify those trees under wires needing removal and establish a long-term removal and replacement program. Adjacent property owners will be notified of the City’s intent to remove and replace a public tree that is interfering with overhead power lines. Removal of trees, grinding of stumps, and planting of new trees, will follow the specifications outlined in this policy. Line Clearance Removal Procedure for Trees on Private Property It is the goal of the City of Riverside to remove trees on private property that grow too large to be compatible with the wires. The Public Works Department will identify those trees under wires needing removal and establish a long-term removal program. Trees will be flush cut according to the specifications outlined in this policy. Property owners will be notified of the City’s intent to remove trees that are growing within the 18’ utility easement and that interfere with overhead power lines. Those property owners who do not want the tree removed will be notified of the City’s intent to continue to keep the wires safe on a two year trimming cycle. The property owner may be billed for all additional trimming costs in excess of the two-year circuit trim cycle. If the species of tree is one that suckers from the base, the stump will be ground as much as possible to kill the tree. Line Clearance Procedures for Public Palm Trees that Interfere with Wires The City of Riverside recognizes the value of palm trees to the City’s heritage. Every effort will be taken to preserve and protect palms where they have a significant impact on the public right-of-way. Public Utilities and Public Works staff will inspect palm tree wire conflicts to determine if the wires can be protected or rerouted without removing the tree. 34
Page 1 and 2: URBAN FORESTRY POLICY MANUAL Public
Page 3 and 4: TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 5 WH
Page 5 and 6: Who Cares for the Urban and Communi
Page 7 and 8: Funding for the Urban and Community
Page 9 and 10: Tree Pruning Guidelines Need for Pr
Page 11 and 12: g. Trimming shall provide adequate
Page 13 and 14: Tree Preservation Guidelines Trees
Page 15 and 16: clearance shall be ten (10) feet. T
Page 17 and 18: which, in the opinion of the Commis
Page 19 and 20: 6. With Commission approval, Shamel
Page 21 and 22: Street Tree Asset Value The Street
Page 23 and 24: 2. General tree characteristics to
Page 25 and 26: Care of Newly Planted Trees Care of
Page 27 and 28: Department is responsible for all o
Page 29 and 30: Tree/Hardscape Conflicts Guidelines
Page 31: which is located in the right-of-wa

Urban Forestry Policy Manual - City of Riverside

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